Our View: Thumbs up for South Sudan fundraiser

By the book: The premiere of a short documentary, "The New Americans," about the experiences and aspirations of former refugees in Erie, drew a large crowd to East High School on April 5.

Today from 4 to 6 p.m., one of the three people featured in the film, Margaret Atarri, and her brother and sister, Albert Oduho and Pamela Oduho, will host a fundraiser at the Erie Art Museum. They are raising money for the Otuho-Speaking Community of North America to ship textbooks and school supplies to South Sudan.

Atarri joined Zakaria Sharif, originally from Somalia, and Alexander Atlantic, brother of Iraqi-born filmmaker Maitham Basha-Agha, after the movie to answer questions from the audience. Sharif drew a big round of applause when he described Erie in familiar terms as "a great place to raise a family."

Tickets for today's fundraiser, available at the door, are $30; the event features African food, drumming, traditional dance and a silent auction of African crafts.

Who's counting: Before the city of Erie's annual spring cleanup starts, city officials stress that only one large item can be put out for pickup each week. Many residents ignore that rule. On some streets on garbage night, it looks like entire households have been dumped on the curb.

As city officials work to motivate scofflaws to pay their overdue garbage bills, it is discouraging to see junky neighborhoods. Residents should follow the rules for the cleanup, which ends May 1.

Here are two opportunities to help keep Erie clean today: Presque Isle's 58th annual Spring Cleanup is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers should go to the Rotary Pavilion. You can get rid of old papers and benefit Erie Shriners Ambulatory Surgery Center and Outpatient Specialty Care Center, 1645 W. Eighth St., at the Shredding for Shriners event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with Shred-X of Erie.

Deliberating slowly: Commonwealth Court has taken its time to rule on challenges to petitions for the May 20 primary. Two Harborcreek Township Democrats challenged the petitions for Democrat Curt Smith, a candidate for the 4th District in the state House, but the court hasn't ruled yet on the challenge. Smith hopes to face incumbent Republican Rep. Curt Sonney in the general election.

On Tuesday, Commonwealth Court rejected a challenge to the petitions of Robert Guzzardi, who is challenging Gov. Tom Corbett on the Republican ballot. The hearing on the petition challenge was April 7. The state Republican Party said the decision will be appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The slow process of ruling on the challenges injects uncertainty into the primary for candidates and voters.